The Super League

[Lambert09]

41 minutes ago, whoareyaaa said:

Champions league is now pretty much a super league

Some would think that it has absolutely nothing to do with the sport and is purely all about the money. 

[Lambert09]

Those clubs have been laying the groundwork for this for some time now. belittling the cup competitions to a point that their fans accept when they don’t take part in them.  
 

There’s no super league where these teams also play in the cups.  They’d probably negotiate a fee bye to the quarter finals 

[davieG]

2 hours ago, Pliskin said:

They will if they think it can be sustained. Now that the gulf nations and the states are really interested in the game, that’s all they want. A cluster of the best teams playing one another.

They can have that and the PL

[Chrysalis]

On 18/12/2024 at 08:05, blue army 1988 said:

Always thought the Premier league would make a killing if they set up their own TV package/station and showed every football game under their name.

Surly it would be better for fans too as it wouldn't be across 3 platforms like it is now.

 

Premier league TV - all the games under one roof

Its the unknown that they fear, the system we have now has predictability which risk averse executives like.

 

I can only see the existing system failing though, as you said its split across different platforms, and the black market covers every game for your club, whilst Sky and co is focused on specific clubs.

[Product of 84]

The big 6 will never allow every game to be shown on one platform as fans worldwide would have access to one clubs fixtures which in turn might gown clubs outside of the big 6. For instance, when we won the league interest in us was global. Imagine if that global audience could then access all our fixtures the following season. We would have grown. 

 

As pointed out the big 6 want predictable money coming in, over that of clubs like Newcastle, Everton, West Ham, Leicester etc etc. They will protect that interest even if it means they don't make as much money as they could. 

[Paninistickers]

Upon reflection, I'd welcome a super league. But rather than for the leftovers battling for access to it via promotion and relegation, turn the tables. There's no way back. You leave, you're gone for good. 

 

And let's assume the big clubs call the bluff of their respective leagues and walk. I'd enjoy it. The PL would essentially turn into a championship+ level (as remaining teams would lose the huge funding of the PL so budgets and playing staff would be downgraded as such)

 

UEFA should back the leagues by applying the same 'no.coming back' policy and maintain its existing competitions in their best format; CL  / Europa / Conference..... essentially the CL would be teams of level of Celtic and Ajax and Atalanta. I'm down for that. 

 

Teams of our size have a much better chance of qualifying for Europe and you, we play Legia and Sparta and AEK Athens instead of Bayern and Barca. But fck it. I'm down for that. 

[Paninistickers]

Actually, I think we all might underestimate the commercial interest in TV rights of an EPL where the big games West Ham v Fulham. Everton v Leicester. Forest v Villa. 

 

Agreed, it won't be to the value level of the current EPL. But there's enough of a counter culture Europe worldwide and world wide to find that level of football as, if not more, interesting than Mbappe V Haaland every week. 

[pmcla26]

23 minutes ago, Paninistickers said:

Upon reflection, I'd welcome a super league. But rather than for the leftovers battling for access to it via promotion and relegation, turn the tables. There's no way back. You leave, you're gone for good. 

 

And let's assume the big clubs call the bluff of their respective leagues and walk. I'd enjoy it. The PL would essentially turn into a championship+ level (as remaining teams would lose the huge funding of the PL so budgets and playing staff would be downgraded as such)

 

UEFA should back the leagues by applying the same 'no.coming back' policy and maintain its existing competitions in their best format; CL  / Europa / Conference..... essentially the CL would be teams of level of Celtic and Ajax and Atalanta. I'm down for that. 

 

Teams of our size have a much better chance of qualifying for Europe and you, we play Legia and Sparta and AEK Athens instead of Bayern and Barca. But fck it. I'm down for that. 

So we never get the chance to have another 5-3 vs Man United, or FA Cup win vs Chelsea? (and the same for all the other games where smaller clubs have beat the big ones) 

 

I'm not bothered about us not being one of the big fishes in the pond, it makes it sweeter when we get to stick it to our glory-hunting mates. This is what you expect when you sign up (or forced by family members) to be a Leicester fan. 

 

Personally, I think keeping football as it is would be the best thing. Where's the fun in winning the Premier League just because Everton, Brighton, West Ham and Leicester are the big clubs? You kill every dream or hope of another Premier League win against odds, gate crashing the top 4 or beating one of the big boys in a cup final. 

[Footballwipe]

I really don't get why so many people care about the top clubs taking the money with them if they did go.

 

So what? The finances would settle back to a proportionate level for the clubs that remain. If TV income dropped 75% so what? Wages would adapt for those who are playing in that league. Some seem so obsessed with money they're terrified of losing out on the mega millions when we could actually have a great financial reset if they pissed off.

[purpleronnie]

4 minutes ago, Footballwipe said:

I really don't get why so many people care about the top clubs taking the money with them if they did go.

 

So what? The finances would settle back to a proportionate level for the clubs that remain. If TV income dropped 75% so what? Wages would adapt for those who are playing in that league. Some seem so obsessed with money they're terrified of losing out on the mega millions when we could actually have a great financial reset if they pissed off.

Its likely to have the opposite effect and drive already struggling football clubs to extinction.

[Footballwipe]

1 minute ago, purpleronnie said:

Its likely to have the opposite effect and drive already struggling football clubs to extinction.

Then that's an issue with the system. Struggling clubs being reliant on the top teams for income is precisely why they've managed to gain more and more and more power, making those teams cling onto the scraps they give them.

 

Football needs to be sustainable, teams need to stop spending 200% of their income on wages to chase the £200m dream. I don't understand why we give teams a free pass for being fiscally irresponsible when paying players if they can't sustain it.

[Paninistickers]

16 minutes ago, purpleronnie said:

Its likely to have the opposite effect and drive already struggling football clubs to extinction.

The formation of a super league may allow the EFL and remaining EPL teams to create a much more sustainable model. The biggest pain would arrive at the door of b list players unable to earn tens of millions over their careers anymore. Then so be it. 

 

Edit; super league would have around 500 players being paid enormous sums. However, right now there are around 5000+ other players performing at very decent levels; from ligue 1 to Bundesliga,. Belgian, MLS, Portugal, Austria, Aussies,.our own EFL championship, Dutch, Scandi, Jocks....the remaining non super league teams will be fine....life goes on. 

Edited 19 December 2024 by Paninistickers

[purpleronnie]

2 minutes ago, Paninistickers said:

The formation of a super league may allow the EFL and remaining EPL teams to create a much more sustainable model. The biggest pain would arrive at the door of b list players unable to earn tens of millions over their careers anymore. Then so be it. 

They could do that now, no reason they would if there was a super league.  Wishing in one hand methinks.

[Paninistickers]

2 minutes ago, purpleronnie said:

They could do that now, no reason they would if there was a super league.  Wishing in one hand methinks.

Agree. Because non big 6 clubs, like us, consistently vote in their interests. Presumably in the vain hope a high tide rises all. 

[grobyfox1990]

57 minutes ago, Footballwipe said:

I really don't get why so many people care about the top clubs taking the money with them if they did go.

 

So what? The finances would settle back to a proportionate level for the clubs that remain. If TV income dropped 75% so what? Wages would adapt for those who are playing in that league. Some seem so obsessed with money they're terrified of losing out on the mega millions when we could actually have a great financial reset if they pissed off.

It would take extinction first though, before settling back down to the normality you describe. E.g. you, I and everyone else on this message board is maddeningly richer than the wildest dreams of 99% of people that have ever lived. However we've somehow got ourselves caught up in a world where we spend £100/£1000s on pointless tat for a religious festival for a religion we don't even follow. People literally get in debt and die for this sh1t. Think what a huge drop like 75% in income would do first before that adaptation 

[MarriedaLeicesterGirl]

1 hour ago, purpleronnie said:

Its likely to have the opposite effect and drive already struggling football clubs to extinction.

This is basically what has happened in the U.S. - if you play in the NFL, NBA, MLB, or NHL you make a fortune. If you play for any of the (sometimes non-existent) "lower" leagues, you are making less than minimum wage. Of course, in the US, sports are exempt from antitrust legislation.

[SkidsFox]

I've got to the stage where I'd prefer the big 6/7 to feck off, tbh. It all feels rigged, and a system where the top clubs can buy £70 million players to slot into their reserves, means we are kidding ourselves that it's a fair competition. The big clubs have made it obvious they won't allow another us/"Leicester". Let them slope off to their weekly Bayern/Juve/Real/Barca superstars competition.

[Steve_Guppy_Left_Foot]

Echo a lot of people, I really hope it happens so football can be back on a more level footing.

[DJ Barry Hammond]

8 hours ago, Product of 84 said:

The big 6 will never allow every game to be shown on one platform as fans worldwide would have access to one clubs fixtures which in turn might gown clubs outside of the big 6. For instance, when we won the league interest in us was global. Imagine if that global audience could then access all our fixtures the following season. We would have grown. 

 

As pointed out the big 6 want predictable money coming in, over that of clubs like Newcastle, Everton, West Ham, Leicester etc etc. They will protect that interest even if it means they don't make as much money as they could. 

The big 6 would very much like to sell the TV rights to their own games and not settle for a collective deal that shares the proceeds in a somewhat equitable manner across many clubs.

 

It’s also very naive to think that any club outside the big 6 could grow a sustainable audience that could in any way compete with the sort of audience that the traditional elite clubs can attract just for being those clubs.

 

You now, United have been dross for years now - doesn’t stop them being one of the most marketable and viewed clubs in the World.

 

 

[Sol thewall Bamba]

4 hours ago, Steve_Guppy_Left_Foot said:

Echo a lot of people, I really hope it happens so football can be back on a more level footing.

How would it put things on a more level footing?

[Steve_Guppy_Left_Foot]

20 minutes ago, Sol thewall Bamba said:

How would it put things on a more level footing?

The big teams would be out and take all their money with them, so hopefully a hard reset for the teams that remain to redistribute things more evenly. Can hope.

[fox_up_north]

It would be a real test of what is the actual marketable aspect.

 

Is it the fact it's the top English league?

Or the big 5? (Honestly, Spurs aren't included)

Or is it the fact that ours is the league with the variety of teams likely to win?

[Jattdogg]

The sooner they fook off the better IMO.

 

I want to watch football where anyone can stand a real legit chance  of winning the league.

 

Football is dead already. Maybe we played a part in breaking it, maybe we didn't. Outside of the top 4 or 5 clubs, we have absolutely fook all to play for.  Oh look we won the  "didn't get relegated" cup lol. It's absolutely spursy to be proud of that. Who'd have thought being a current day Everton is something to be proud of.

 

If that's what we have to look forward to as the gulf between haves and have nots widens, then quiting football is not far away for me. 

 

 

[JamesfromlondonLCFC]

14 hours ago, Chrysalis said:

Its the unknown that they fear, the system we have now has predictability which risk averse executives like.

 

I can only see the existing system failing though, as you said its split across different platforms, and the black market covers every game for your club, whilst Sky and co is focused on specific clubs.

The thing is they could go one better, they could go full WWE network style, showing every single prem game from now on, and upload every single premier league game from history as well. While the WWE network is becoming part of Netflix now, the fact remains it was a success, and the WWE doesn't have a fraction of the pull that the Premier League has. The fact is if they wanted, they wouldn't even have to do it themselves. They could just partner with someone like Amazon completely and have every game ever played uploaded, and stream every future game. Only thing to get past is those pesky 3pm kick off rules. Oh wait that's easy too, let Amazon USA stream them live, then everyone can just use a VPN and watch it anyway. 

[Sol thewall Bamba]

18 hours ago, Steve_Guppy_Left_Foot said:

The big teams would be out and take all their money with them, so hopefully a hard reset for the teams that remain to redistribute things more evenly. Can hope.

But the teams that are pushing it have never said that they'd leave the Premier League? They'd still compete in it (probably with more cash than before), as well as competing in the Super League. How does that level the playing field?